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living room Building a Home Lighting

Cove Lighting a Vaulted Ceiling & Recessed Lighting Placement

3 years ago

I could really use your help! Should we install cove lighting surrounding our open concept living room? The builder has framed out the soffits but we can take it down if you feel cove lighting wouldn’t look nice. I have included the room’s layout and furniture placement.

Also, what size ans how many recessed lights should we put in the soffits? We had planned to have some of them gimbaled to highlight the fireplace/tv, nook for a built in bookshelf and the wall to the right when facing the fireplace.

How many, what size and where should we place recessed lights in the ceiling?

Thank you!!!!

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Comments (5)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
3 years ago
Who designed what you have so far?
Merris Delane
Original Author
3 years ago
Are you referring to the soffits, room, layout?
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Depends on the slope of the ceiling. I used gimbal trims that have 30 degree tilt. What's the lumen rating on those LEDs? You might be disappointed with how little light they put out compared to a PAR30 75 watt in a gimbal 5" trim. Of course the halogens will use more energy but not nearly enough to justify what your going to spend more for LED. In a few years I bet LED bulbs will be cheap and it will pay to replace the halogens.
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I wouldn't do it because the space isn't a coordinating architectural feature. The cove appears to have been included to lighten the weighty feeling of that segment of ceiling. Trying to correct something. I'd stop now and add ambient recessed.
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@Debbi Washburn do you think I have too many even on the second layout? Do i need them in the middle of the ceiling at all? How about my issue with lighting the pantry area on version 2 ? You suggested placement of 6" from the front of the cabinet, but everywhere i read seems to suggest 12" (to line up with the edge of the counter). I am not sure which is correct. And, yes, we are also planning to add some under the cabinet lighting. @Sammy assuming the angle of light dispersion is 90%, they will overlap at the counter height when placed 46 inches apart.
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Merris Delane
Original Author
3 years ago
Our builder said we needed the soffits in order to far out enough to allow the light to reflect up on the ceiling?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
3 years ago
Yes.

The reason I ask is in designing the illumination of a space with different types of light (cove, down, and natural) great care should be taken in harmonizing the ceiling/cove configuration along with the fixtures and bulbs to create a unified whole. Cove lighting illuminates the ceiling and if there is not enough distance from the source of the light to the ceiling, hot spots are created. Contact a local lighting designer/consultant to address your unique situation, there are too many factors involved to be solved over the internet.
Merris Delane
Original Author
3 years ago
Agreed. I truly do need an in person lighting consultant and am trying to find one.

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